28 Accident Synopses

Note: The following accident synopses are Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) Class 5 events, which occurred between August 1, 2011, and October 31, 2011. These occurrences do not meet the criteria of classes 1 through 4, and are recorded by the TSB for possible safety analysis, statistical reporting, or archival purposes. The narratives may have been updated by the TSB since publication. For more information on any individual event, please contact the TSB.

- On August 3, 2011, a Convair CV580 was landing at Kasba Lake, N.W.T., on a flight from Winnipeg, Man. The runway was bumpy, with soft and wet spots after recent rains. During the landing roll, the aircraft’s nose gear collapsed, and the aircraft came to rest on its nose. The passengers were deplaned with no injuries; the aircraft sustained substantial damage. TSB File A11C0128.

- On August 5, 2011, a Bell 407 helicopter was moving personnel in support of mining operations in the Hackett River Camp, Nun., area when an engine chip light came on. The pilot landed the helicopter and was following the normal engine cool-down procedure when a loud bang was heard and debris was projected in front of the helicopter. The pilot immediately activated the fuel shutoff and turned off the battery master. The pilot and four passengers exited the helicopter, and fire was observed in the engine area. The pilot returned to the helicopter and attempted to put out the fire with the hand-held cockpit fire extinguisher. The fire continued to burn; the pilot turned on the ELT and grabbed the hand-held radio. The helicopter was completely consumed by a post-crash fire. A cursory examination of the wreckage indicated an uncontained failure of the Allison 250 C47B engine. The engine was removed from the site and was shipped to the TSB Engineering Branch in Ottawa for examination. TSB File A11C0129.

- On August 6, 2011, a privately owned Enstrom 280 FX helicopter was landing on an unprepared sloped surface beside Lake du Chevreuil, Que. When the aircraft landed, its tail rotor struck the surface of the water and its drive shaft broke. The aircraft began rotating left before landing. The left skid was damaged. The accident occurred approximately 5 NM west of Duhamel, Que. Neither of the occupants was injured. TSB File A11Q0149.

- On August 11, 2011, the pilot of an AS 350 B2 helicopter had started the helicopter and began to perform the pre-flight hydraulic check. During the standard hydraulic accumulator test, the collective rose up and the helicopter became airborne. The pilot attempted to control the helicopter without hydraulic flight controls, but it struck the ground, bounced back into the air, rotated twice, and rolled over onto its left side. The pilot and three passengers escaped uninjured, but the helicopter was substantially damaged. The pilot had not engaged the collective lock. See TSB report #A06P0123 for identical circumstances. TSB File A11P0121.

- On August 13, 2011, a float-equipped Cessna 170B, with the pilot and two passengers on board, was taking off from Lake Sept-Îles, Que., when the pilot noticed that there was a personal watercraft ahead crossing his take-off path. The pilot completed a manoeuvre to avoid the personal watercraft, but the right wing touched the surface of the water, which caused the aircraft to stop suddenly. Both wings were significantly damaged. There were no injuries. TSB File A11Q0151.

- On August 14, 2011, a float-equipped Cessna 172N was on a recreational flight in the Caniapiscau, Que., region. While the aircraft was landing in very windy conditions on Lake Pau, the aircraft bounced. The pilot applied power to correct the situation. However, given that the aircraft’s speed had decreased too much, the effectiveness of the flight controls was reduced and was so low that the pilot was unable to regain control of the aircraft for landing. The aircraft’s right wing and nose touched the surface of the water first, and the aircraft came to a stop tilted, semi-submerged. The two occupants, who were wearing personal floatation devices (PFD), egressed and were quickly rescued by people from the nearby outfitter. There were no injuries. TSB File A11Q0153.

- On August 17, 2011, the pilot of a Cessna C150F was conducting circuits at Pokemouche Airport (CDA4) near Blanchard Settlement, N.B. At about 20:00 ADT, an engine RPM drop (Continental O-200) was noted as power was applied following a touch-and-go landing. The pilot elected to carry out a forced landing in a field adjacent to the airfield, but the aircraft’s vertical fin struck utility wires during the approach. The aircraft came to rest on the ground inverted. The pilot sustained minor injuries that were treated at the scene by paramedics. It was estimated that 10 L of fuel remained on board at the time of occurrence. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. TSB File A11A0048.

- On August 20, 2011, a privately registered Cessna T210M was parked on the ramp at Humboldt, Sask., after a local VFR flight. The pilot had the engine running in an effort to lower engine temperatures prior to shutting it down. The pilot had opened the left cabin door to allow cooler air into the cockpit. At this point, the male passenger in the rear seat exited the aircraft and stood in the open doorway talking with the pilot. Sometime shortly afterward, the lone female passenger seated in the right front seat unlatched the right cockpit door and exited the aircraft. After exiting the aircraft, the passenger walked towards the front of the aircraft and was fatally injured on contact with the rotating propeller. The pilot and other passenger sustained no physical injuries. TSB File A11C0135.

- On August 21, 2011, a privately registered Mooney M-20J was landing on Runway 30 at Thunder Bay, Ont., with a pilot and three passengers on board. During the landing roll, the pilot’s shirt became entangled on the landing gear selector, and the gear retracted. The aircraft settled on its belly and sustained damage to the belly and propeller. The pilot and passengers were uninjured. TSB File A11C0137.

- On August 23, 2011, a Bell 206B helicopter had landed on a makeshift lumber pad at a remote site 73 NM south of Smithers, B.C. Two passengers disembarked as the helicopter remained running and under the control of the pilot. As the helicopter was lifting off with only the pilot on board, a bear paw on the skid caught on a piece of lumber, which resulted in the helicopter rolling over. The pilot sustained minor injuries. Help was summoned by one of the passengers. The helicopter was substantially damaged. TSB File A11P0127.

- On August 24, 2011, a float-equipped Stinson 108-3 struck glassy water during an approach to land on Upper Arrow Lake at Nakusp, B.C. The aircraft overturned and submerged. The pilot was able to exit the aircraft, but the passenger did not exit and drowned in the overturned aircraft. TSB File A11P0128.

- On August 25, 2011, a privately registered Cessna U206D was landing on a road adjacent to a farm where the pilot was to repair farm equipment. During the final approach, the vertical fin struck an unobserved wire crossing the road. The aircraft landed safely. The vertical fin and rudder sustained substantial damage. There were no injuries. TSB File A11C0141.

- On August 28, 2011, a Cessna R182 was landing on Runway 30 at Charlo, N.B., after arriving from Bathurst, N.B. Upon touchdown, the aircraft landed on its belly, scraped along the runway for some distance, and came to rest on the paved surface. The pilot was the only occupant and was not injured; however, the aircraft was substantially damaged. The landing gear warning system was reported to be operating correctly, but the landing gear selector was not selected down prior to landing. TSB File A11A0054.

- On September 2, 2011, a Piper PA28-151 failed to outclimb rising terrain in a coulee during a private sightseeing flight west of Claresholm, Alta. During a 180° turn, the aircraft stalled and crashed into trees. Two occupants sustained minor injuries, and one was flown by MEDEVAC helicopter to Calgary with serious injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. TSB File A11W0129.

- On September 3, 2011, two gliders (an SZD-55-1 and a G102 ASTIR CS) were soaring in the same thermal about 7 NM southeast of the Invermere, B.C., airport when they collided. Both aircraft were substantially damaged and were incapable of controlled flight. Both aircraft struck the terrain and were destroyed. Neither pilot survived. The TSB is assisting the Office of the Chief Coroner for British Columbia in its investigation. TSB File A11P0134.

- On September 16, 2011, a Lake LA-4 amphibian airplane was taking off in VFR conditions between the St-Hyacinthe, Que., airport (CSU3) and Lake Geoffrion, Que. While the aircraft was attempting to land on water for the fourth time, it crashed in the lake. Both individuals were rescued by shoreline residents, who made their way to the aircraft in small boats. The passenger was fatally injured, and the pilot was severely injured. The aircraft was destroyed. TSB File A11Q0177.

- On September 16, 2011, an Aerospatiale AS350B1 helicopter was refuelled at Langley, B.C., and departed for Kelowna, B.C., at 18:20 PDT. The aircraft was last observed on radar at 3 800 ft in the vicinity of Hope, B.C. A citizen reported to the Kelowna tower that the aircraft was overdue. ATC had had no contact with the aircraft. The aircraft was found on September 20 by another helicopter operating in the area. The wreckage was located at 6 100 ft ASL on a north-facing 32º slope, indicating that the aircraft had turned back and reversed course. There was an intense post-impact fire that consumed most of the aircraft. The pilot was fatally injured. An installed 406 ELT was not working. TSB File A11P0139.

- On September 17, 2011, a Cessna 182P was inbound for Rockcliffe Airport (CYRO), Ont., and planned to land on Runway 27. During the final approach, the pilot lost sight of the runway in the setting sun and landed on Taxiway A, which was parallel to the runway. During the landing rollout, the pilot swerved to the left to avoid a taxiing aircraft and struck a parked aircraft. The pilot was uninjured; however, the landing aircraft was significantly damaged. TSB File A11O0187.

- On September 18, 2011, the unlicensed pilot of an ultralight Aeros Model 582 had conducted numerous taxi runs to become familiar with the aircraft before departing from a private property in Carroll’s Corner, N.S., for a local flight. This was the first flight for the pilot in this model of ultralight. After climbing above the trees shortly after takeoff, the ultralight pitched nose down, descended rapidly and crashed into a pond. The pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was fatally injured. Fuel leaked into the pond. There was no indication of an in-flight structural failure, and the engine was operating at the time of impact. The pilot had about 9 hr of dual-flight training in a different model of ultralight. The pilot did not have any ground school training, nor was he authorized to fly solo. TSB File A11A0061.

- On September 23, 2011, a Cessna U206G was conducting a VFR charter flight from Fort Simpson, N.W.T., to the Root River Camp with two drums of avgas. The aircraft departed Fort Simpson in VFR conditions and followed the Root River. After approximately 1 hr of flying, the pilot began to encounter lower ceilings and visibilities. The pilot turned into what was thought to be the valley where the camp was located, but it was actually a box canyon. During an attempt to turn and climb out of the rising terrain, the right wing struck terrain and then the ground. The pilot sustained minor injuries and was located a few hours later with the help of the functioning 406 ELT. TSB File A11W0146.

- On September 23, 2011, an amateur-built, float-equipped Wagaero Sport Trainer was on a local VFR flight with the pilot and a passenger on board. When the aircraft took off from Lake Jourdain, Que., it entered a bank of fog. The pilot made a turn and the floats struck the surface of the water. The aircraft was severely damaged. Neither occupant was injured in the accident. TSB File A11Q0183.

- On September 24, 2011, a float-equipped Wagaero Sportsman 2+2 took off from Lake Husky, Que., for a local flight with the pilot and a passenger on board. While the aircraft was returning and was on final for the lake, it experienced fuel starvation. The seaplane struck trees and crashed 20 m before it was to land on Lake Husky. Neither occupant was injured in the accident. According to the information that was obtained, a blocked fuel pipe caused the loss of power. The 406 ELT went off upon impact. TSB File A11Q0184.

- On September 24, 2011, an R44 II helicopter took off from Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, Que. at around 20:30 EDST on a VFR night flight to Saint-Jean-des-Piles, Que., with only the pilot on board. The aircraft struck the surface of Saint-Maurice River when it was approximately 350 m from its destination. The aircraft quickly sank. The pilot egressed from the cockpit and swam to shore, where he was rescued. He sustained serious injuries. TSB File A11Q0182.

- On October 2, 2011, an amateur-built, float-equipped Beaver des Pauvres took off from Nicolet River, Que., for the Outardes-4 dam, located north of Baie-Comeau, Que. While the aircraft was en route, the weather deteriorated, and the pilot conducted a precautionary landing on water in the southwestern portion of Jacques Cartier Lake, located in the Réserve faunique des Laurentides, at around 10:00 EST. Judging that the weather had improved, he took off again at around 12:30 EST. He found himself in a valley in which it was impossible to turn around. Due to the blanket of clouds, the pilot descended so low that the aircraft struck the tops of spruce trees. The seaplane crashed at around 13:00 EST and was significantly damaged. The pilot was not injured. The impact was not enough to set off the ELT. The pilot had a global positioning system (GPS) that could identify his location. Furthermore, he was able to communicate via cell phone and be rescued, as he was close to Route 175. TSB File A11Q0186.

- On October 19, 2011, a Cessna 185 was conducting an engine run-up in the run-up designated area at Rouyn-Noranda airport (CYUY), Que., when a Boeing 737 parked 300 ft away increased engine power to taxi. The C185 pilot, realizing the B737 was advancing, applied engine power in an attempt to taxi further away; however, the C185’s right wing lifted and the aircraft fell on its right side. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The C185 was substantially damaged. The C185 pilot was not aware that the B737 was preparing to leave and did not believe his aircraft was close enough to the B737 to be affected by the jet blast. The B737 flagman believed the C185 was far enough away and would not be affected by the jet blast. The flight service station (FSS) had not advised either crew of the presence of the other aircraft. TSB File A11Q0190.

- On October 26, 2011, a chartered Cessna 180J was climbing to 5 500 ft ASL towards St-Boniface-de-Shawinigan, Que. At approximately 3 500 ft ASL, the pilot noticed that the Continental O-470-S engine had lost power and stabilized the aircraft. The pilot turned around to come back and land and applied carburetor de-icing. The engine misfired a few times. While the aircraft was flying by the mountaintop upon its return, it entered an area of downdrafting air. While it was descending into the valley, the aircraft struck the treetops and came to a stop in the trees. The pilot and two passengers were not injured, and the aircraft was significantly damaged. TSB File A11Q0198.

- On October 30, 2011, a Fairchild SA227-AC was on an IFR flight from Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (CYUL), Que., to Kitchener/Waterloo (CYKF), Ont., with two pilots and two passengers on board. After the aircraft pushed back, the pilots were instructed to set the brakes and disconnect from the towing tractor. While personnel were still working near the nose wheel, the airplane started moving forward towards the tractor. The personnel moved away; the nose of the airplane struck the tractor and was damaged. There were no injuries. TSB File A11Q0203.

- On October 31, 2011, a float-equipped Champion 7GCBX took off on a VFR flight from Lake Labrecque, Que., to Lake Houlière, Que., with only the pilot on board. Approximately 30 min after takeoff, the pilot conducted a precautionary water landing on Péribonka River when he encountered low visibility conditions. When the aircraft landed on water, the pilot lost his visual references in the fog and the seaplane landed in a marsh on the shore of the river. During the ground run, a wing and a float broke off. The airplane caught fire after it came to a stop. The 406 ELT went off. The pilot was not injured in the accident. TSB File A11Q0204.

We would like to acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada for this initiative through the Search and Rescue New Initiative Fund (SAR NIF)

The content provided on SmartPilot.ca is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace or supersede the recommended procedures contained in your aircraft flight manual or POH, nor is it intended to be a replacement for training from a properly licenced and experienced instructor.